Electric railway switching mechanism.



N01.' 817,290. A PATENTED APR. l0, 1906.

m H. 4Lim-mm. ELECTRIC RAILWAY SWITGHING MBGHANISM.

APPLIOATIQN FILED oT..s,19o5.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l. i

. PATENTBD Apmlo, 1906 No.. alf/3290. y

APPLIoAT-ION FILED OUT. 5,1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET'E LNu. 817,290. PATBNTED APR. l0, 1906.

l H. L. YOUNG.

ELECVIRIG` RAILWAY SWITCHING MEGHANISM.

` APPLIUATION FILED 0015, 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

No. 817,290. PATENTED APR. l0, 1906.

H. L. YOUNG.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY SWITCHING MEGHANISM.

.PPLIUATIUN- FILED GUT. 5. 1905.

' 4 SHEETSSHEET .To all whom it may cmi/cern:

UNITED sT`i-1 T 1j3 s h PATENT oEEroE;

HARRY` LUTHR YOUNG, OF PUEBLO, COLORADO.

ELECTRIC RILWAY SWITCHING MCHANISM...

Beit known that I, HARRY LUTHER YOUNG, a citizen oi the United States, residing at Pueblo, in the county of Pueblo and State of Colorado, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric Railway Switching `Mechanism, of which the following is aspeciication.

My invention relates to electric railwayswitches, and has for its principal objects the production of im roved switch constructions, means Jfor e ectrically operating railway-switches, and electrical means under control of a car o erator, motor-man, or engineer for controlling the switch-operating means. i

Among other objects of the invention may be mentloned the' improvement in the carcarried contacts or trolleys by means of which current may be supplied to the switchoperating mechanism, the provision of electromagnetically-operated means for governingsaid car-carried contacts or trolleys, the electrical connections from the car-circuits to said electromagnetic operating means, the

electromagnetic switch operating ,mechanism, the special construction of the trackswitch itself by which accumulation of dirt and debris is prevented, and in the improvement in various details of electric railway switching mechanism.' I attain these objects by, and my invention .consists in, the

mechanisms described and claimed hereinafter and illustrated in the accompanying drawinV s, in whichigure 1 is a pers ective view of a railwaytrack switch and e 'ectromagnetic'operatin mechanism, the latter being shown exposed and a part of one of the switch-guards being broken away for purposes of better illustration. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing a de- 'tail oi the switch-point connection. Fig.' 3

is a similar view, enlarged, oi' my improved combined switch-rail and base adapted to prevent accumulation of dirt and debris about the switch-point. Figs. 4' and 5 are detached perspective views of a referred form oi surface spring-contact an trolleyoperating electromagnet, respectively. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the trolleyole base and contacts. Fig..7 is a view in e evation, showing a trolley-car of the overhead-trolley type equipped with my invention. Fig. 8 is a similar view showing my invention ap- Sp'uecication of Letters Patent. Application filed October 5, 1905. Serial No. 281,470.

, head-trolley system. larged, detail views in perspective and eleva- "Patented April 10, 1906.

- plied to a trolley-.car lof the surface-contact or third-rail7 type.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of track-switch mechanism and wiring for the surface-contact or third-rail trolley system. Fig. 10 shows similarly the trackswitch mechanism and wiring for the over- Figs. 11 and 12 are ention, respectively, civ the overhead -trolley construction. Fig. 13 is a view in elevation, showing'a trolley-car oi the conduit or underground type equipped with my invention. Fig. 14 is anenlarged detail showing the mounting of the` switch-controlling' trolley for the conduit system and Fig. 15 is aview, partly in transverse section, showing the switch, switch-operating mechanism, and contact-conductor arrangement for the conduit system. 1

Referrin to the drawings, in which like reference c aracters designate corresponding or similar parts throughout the various iigures, 1 1 representmovable switch-points of: a railway-track switch, which are suitably pivoted to the track structure and connected by an operating-bar 2. As shown in Fig.4 bar 2 is loosely or pivotally connected by ins 13 to switch-points 1. Bar 2 is pivotal y connected to a lever 3, fulcrumed at 22 toa block 23 upon a base 8. Lever 3, and conse- In order to prevent accumulation of' dirt and debris about the switch-points, I preferably provide the special mounting for them shown in Figs. 1 and 2,` by which the movement of the switch-points automatically'removes any dirt which may have settled in the space in which it is mounted. To effect this, I provide a switch-rail. 9, having an upright tread portion in alinement with the track-rail and a horizontal base portion upon which the movable switch-point 1 rests and is adapted to move. Rail 9 is bolted, as at 9b, to supporting guard or chair 5, which in turn is spiked to cross-ties 14. Rail 9 is slotted at 9a to form a rest for operating-rod 2 The upright pnrtion of rail 9 is also `provided With a series of perforations 9, Which are preferably staggered With relation to the eriorations 9d, so that any dirt Which fails to tall through the latter may be pushed through the former. by the movement of the switchpoint. f

The bottom of the switch-guard 5 is perforated to match the base-perforations of rail 9 and has a slotted opening or channel 5a4 along each side 9i said rail, through which scribed two movable switch-points for asingle switch this is not absolutely necessary, as one movable point only may sometimes be employed, also that the form of the switchin magnets may be varied when found desirable or to suit-special conditions, and a suitable cover for the protection of this apparatus is of course provided. It vvill also e understood that various changes may be made in the details of the dirt-eliminating switch-rail and base. For instance, the guard or chair 5 may sometimes be modified or even omitted and said switch-rail and base spiked directly to the cross-ties.

The track-switch as thus constructed is adapted for use particularly in an electric railway of theoverhead-trolley type, of which a car is shown in Fig. 7, track-circuits in Fig. 10, and various details in Figs. 5, 6, 11, and 1.2; but by certain modifications to be hereinafter described my invention' ma be 'applied to the surface-contact or'thir rail system and to the underground or conduit system.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, and 12, the track-switch magnet 11 isvconnected by conductor 16 with a short supplemental conductor 27, mounted parallel with and adjacent to the-trolley-supply conductor 26, but insulated therefrom by insulated sup'portsl 80. The other side o the circuit is through conductor v15 to ground at rail 21. Similarly, magnet-12v is connected "by conductor 19 to supplementary conductor 27 E and by conductor 26 to ground. 82 represents supporting-posts for thev trolleyconductors. Supplementaryconductors 27.

and 275* are insulated fmm each other'by an insulating-section 7 9j, and it will be understood that these conductors and the insulating-section 7 9 may be of any desired length and are placed at a suitable distance from, the track-switch for the uperation of which., they are intended. The supplementary conapparent.A

rent from the trolley-supply conductorl 26 by means of an auxiliary trolley 30, mounted on pivot 31 and secured by means cfa split ductors are designed to be supplied With cursleeve 35 and bolts 36 near the upper end of trolley-pole 37. The trolley-pole may be of any Well-known or ypreferred construction and is provided Witlf the usual main trolley 48, sleeve 35 being insulated from the'pole iliary conductor are in electrical connection With. each other. In order to operate the auxiliary trolley to bring it When desired.

into engagement with the conductors, l provide an electromagnet 41, mounted Within a casing 39, Which is attached by straps or bands 38 to the trolley-pole, preferably near its base. Casing 39 may be made in halves,

' as shown in Fig. 5, Jfastened together by bolts passin through perforations 68. Armaturev 40 of t e electromagnet 41is connected With the auxiliary trolley 30 by cord 72, attached at 69- and 32, so that when said armature is attracted the auxiliary trolley Will be raised to engage the conductors. Magnet 41 is preferably energized from the car-circuit through conductors 42 43, which connect -Withinsulated contact-pieces 46 upon the pole-base 44, the latter being swiveled to the car-top 47 at 44a. Contact pieces 46 are preferably IOO curved on the arc of a'circle and are each en- 4 gaged by a contact-spring 24, mounted upon posts 29, which are connected by Wires 49 and-50 to the car-circuit 55 56 through the switch-blade 51 and elements 52 and 53;

This switch is mounted upon a suitable part 57 ofthe car-frame by screws 58 Within easy 1 reach of the motorman, as shown in Fig. 7. By means `of the construction of contacts 4 6 and 24 connection with ma et 41 is alWa `s possible in all operative 'posltions ofthe po e, as in 0in around curves. The entire? base is pre erab y inclosed by a cap, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 12. f r

p From theforegoing description the general operation of the system will be readily, When a car or train approaches a track-switch which itis desired to operate,

.suppose to close the switch', the motorman` closes his hand-switch 51 atfsucha time as tol bring the auxiliary trolley 3) in contact With supp ementary conductor 27 and f trolleyconductor 26, thereby bridging these conductors and energizing track magnet 11,

oven the switch-points 1 to close the switch. The clrcuitfof magnet 41 is then opened.

`Whichattracts its armature 10a and draws ro 7 4 beneath the car. i In t i spring-contacts 62 62.

3o conductor-rails 59 60.

When it is desired to open the `track-switch, the auxiliary trolley is similarly brought into engagement with supplementary conductor 27 a, thereby energizin magnet 12, which at- 5 tracts armature 10 an opens the switch.

In Fig. 8 I have shown a car of the surfacei contact type (ada ted also for elevated roads) in which 'the auxiliary trolley is -mounted on a rod 37, sup orted by brackets his case the trolley engages the supplementary conductors from above, and hence is vrovided with a counter- Weight 71, mounte on'V arm 70. -Also instead of supplementary Wires I provide `(Shown in Fig. 9 and in detail in Fig, 4.) The s ring 62 (and 62a) ismounted in an insulatedp casing 63 by bolts passing through holes 66, the circuit connection being made by wire fipassing 2o through hole 467. A drainage-aperture is also provided.

' In Figs. 13, 41li, and 15 I have shown my invention applied to a railway of the conduit type. Here the auxiliary trolley is mounted z 5 on a rod carried by an arm 78, attached 4to plow'76 inside of or beneath -shoe'7 7, and bears on conductors 26 27, mounted within the conduit on brackets 6 1. Here I preferably curve the switch-rod 2 to pass beneath struction is quite similar to that already described. f

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters 3 `5 Patent ofthe United States, is-'- 1. In an electric railwayswitching mech;- anism, the combination with a railway-track, 'a movable switch-point, anda supply-conductor, of electromagnetic means for oper-` 40 ating said switch-point, a supplemental conductor having a connection to said electromagnetic means, a car-carried main trolley to engage said supply-conductor, a pivotallymounted auxiliary trolley adapted to engage 4. 5 and electrically connect said supply and supplementary conductors, and electromagnetic means for controlling said auxiliary trolley, substantially as described.

2. "In an electric railway switching mech- 5o anism, the combination with a track-switch and electromagnetic means for operating the same, ofa supply-conductor extending along the way and a supplementary conductor in proximity to the switch and connected to said electromagnetic means, a pivotallymountedcar-carried trolley adapted tonen-` gage and electrically connect said supply and supplementary conductors, and electromagnetic means under control of the motorman 6o for controlling said auxiliary trolley ,v substantially as described. 3. In an electric railway switching mechanism, the combination with a movable switch-point, of an operating-bar therefor, a

Otherwise the con-- `ed to engage sai .at will, substantially as described. 1

4; `The combinationwith a car, of a trolleypole carrying a main trolley mounted thereon, anelectrically-operated auxiliary bridging-trolley pivotally mounted on but insulated from said trolley-pole, substantially as described.

5. The combinationwith a car, of a trolley- Vpole 'carrying a main trolleymounted thereon, an4 auxiliary bridging-trolley in proximity to said main trolley and pivotally mounted o'n but insulated from said trolley-pole,

and an electromagnetic operating device also mounted on said trolley-pole and connected to said auxiliary bridging-trolley, substantially as described.

6. In an electric railway switching' mechanism, the combination with an electricallyoperated railway-switch, of a supply-conductor, a supplemental conductor connected to the switch-operating mechanism, a car-carried mam trolley to engage said supply-conductor, and a ivotally-mounted electricallyoperated aux' iary trolley adapted to bridge and electrically connect said supply and supplemental conductors, substantially as de'- scribed.

7. Means for controlling electrically-operated railway-switches, said means `comprising a trolley-pole in combination with a trol.- ley'pivotally mounted near the upper end thereof but insulated therefrom, an electromagnet mounted on said pole and operatively connected. with said trolley, and a switch under control of the motorman in electrical connection lwith said electromagnet, substantially as described:

8., Means for controlling electrically-operated railWay-switches, said means comprising a trolley-pole swivelly mounted upon a car, said pole having a base provided with laterally-exposed contact-strips, springs fixedly mounted to engage said strips, connections irom said springs to asource of electrical su ply, an electromagnet mounted upon sai pole connected to said strips, and a trolley pivotally mounted on said pole and operatively connected to the movable element of said electromagnet', substantially as described.

IOO

IIO

9. The combination with a car, of a trolan electromagnet mounted upon said pole name to Vthis speeieation inthe presence fof connectd to seid st'ipsl trolley pivotally two subscribing Witnesses. mounte on sal 0 e a. o erative y'con- Y Y nected to the movlble elemegt of said lec- 'HARRY LUTHER YOUA G 5 tromagnet, and' a controlling-switch for said Witnesses:

electromagnet, substantially as described'. W. M. DOHERTY,

In testimony whereof I have signed my JAS. F. MCMAHO. 

